Milk-skimming device



(No Model.)

W.`OOLDITZ.

MILK SKIMMING DBVIGE. No. 272,655. .Patented Feb.20,1883.

UNITnn STATES WILLIAM OOLDIIZ, OF ROCHELLE, ILLINOIS.

MILK-SKI'MMING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 272,65`5fdated Februaryi20, 1883. y

Application led November 7, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM GOLDITZ, a citizen of the United States, residing at Itochelle, iu the county of Ogle and State ot' Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvenients in Devices for Skimining Milk; and I do declare the following to be a l'ull, clear, and exact description ot' the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and igures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this speciticaiion.

This invention relates to devices for skimming or removing cream from the surface of milk in cans, coolers, and like vessels; and it consists ot' a cream-receptacle or skimmingvessel having a shape conforming to that of the milk-vessel into which it is capable of being dipped, and provided with a movable bottom, consisting of centrally-hinged flaps that are connected by vmeans of jointed rods to an operating-handle; and, further, in certain details of construction, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the annexed drawings, illustrating the invention, Figure l is a perspective view of my improved skimming device. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation, showing the hinged tlaps lowered, so as to open the bottom ot' the vessel. Fig. 3 is a transverse section near the lower end of the vessel with the bottom closed. Fig. 4 is a section on the line a; w ot' Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a bottom view. Fig. 6 is a sectional detail. Fig. 7 is a partial side elevation of the skimming-vessel with the bottoni open. Fig. 8 is a detail.

Likeletters ofreterence are used to designate the same parts in the several views.

The skimming-vessel A, which is composed of tin or other suitable material, is preferably cylindrical in shape, and may be of such dimensions as will cause it to coliform more readily to the ordinary cylindrical form ot milk-setting vessels. It' desired, however, a rectangular or other form may be employed. At the lower end of the vessel is a harige, a, provided with lugs b, that are passed through. an annular strip, B, composed ofrubber, cloth, or other elastic, pliable, or flexible material. These lugs b b are clinched around a bindingwire,

O,as shown in Fig. 6, the packing ring or strip B being thus held tightly against the hanged end of the vessel.

Instead of' providing the iiange o with lugs b, said lugs maybe formed on the wire O and made to clinch over the lia-nge, or the lugs and wire may be dispensed with and the packing ring be cemented to the liange or otherwise secured. The packing strip vor ring B may be of any suitable width, preferably suflicient to project both outward and inward for some distance beyond the walls of the vessel.

D is a central transverse bar or cross-piece at the lower end ot' the vessel, and to the under side of which is attached a packing-strip, E, by means ot' fastenings c c, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. At the ends ofthe har l) are lugs d d, that form seats or bearings for a rod or wire, e, to which are hinged a pair of flaps, F F, that have a semicircular shape, conforming, when closed, to the shape of the cylindrical vessel. These flaps are connected by jointed rods fg to a movable operating bail or handle, l, that is support-ed by a stationary handle or hail, G, ot' any suitable or ordinary construction. 'Ihe lower portions,ff, ofthejointed operating-rods are rigidly attached to the inner sides of the centrally-hinged flaps in any suitable manner, while the upper rods, gg, are loosely connected to the lower rods,fj", and to the ends of the movable hail l, wh|ch latter is passed through openings i 'i in the stationary bail G. On the under side ofthe stationary' bail G are guides H H, in which the bail l moves when operating the hinged liaps.

It will be seen that by forcing the movable hail I downward through the openings in the stationary bail G and in the guides H H, the rods fg will be caused to lower the hinged iiaps F F into theA position shown in Figs. 2 and 7 when the skimmingvessel will be ready to be dipped into the milk-setting vessel. rIhe skimming-vessel having been thus-lowered to a point slightly below the cream-line, the bail I may he raised so as to close the flaps F F, and thus contine the cream within the skimming-vessel.

In order to lock the movable bail in its raised position, and thus hold the naps F F tightly against the bottom ot' the vessel, so as to prevent the escupe ot' its contents, a ridge or bar, h, is formed on the upper portion ot' the sta-- IOO tionary bail G at or nearA one edge, as shown in Figs. land 8. The bail I, when raised, may be thrown to one side, so that its ends below the point ot' connection with the rods g g Will rest on the bar h, as shown in Fig. 8, thus-securely locking the parts and preventing the bottom of the vessel from falling open when the vessel is removed and carried by means of thestarionary bail.

Instead of the bar h, other suitable locking devices may be used, or the rods g g may be locked by means of the openings it', through which the bail Imoves. These openings, as shown in Figs. l and S, are elongated in form, with a central enlarged portion, through which the rods g g readily pass; but when said rods, at'ter being` raised, are moved into either end ot' the slot or opening i, their enlarged or bent ends, by which they are connected to the bail I, will be sufficient to hold them in a raised position without slipping.

In one side ofthe vessel A is a transparent panel, 7c, through which the contents of the vessel may be seen and measured. A vertical vent-tube. m, is arranged on the outer side of the vessel at any desired point, and extends downward lrom near the top and through the packing-ring B, so as to permit the escape of air and facilitate the removal of cream.

rlhe operation of the skimmer will be readily understood. When the hinged flaps F F, form- .ing the bottom of the vessel, are lowered or opened, as bel'ore described, the skimmer may be lowered into the milk-setting can, and will present such little surface as to hardlydisturb the cream through which it is passed. In the downward passage of the vessel the projecting edge of the packing-ring B will scrape the inside of the milk-can and eifectually disengage the cream therefrom. After having been lowered beneath the cream-line the movable bail will he raised so as to close the bottom of the vessel, thus inclosing the entire body of cream, together with a small quantity of milk, sut'ticient to facilitate churning. The movable bail having been securely locked, as before explained, the skimming-vessel may be removed by means ofthe stationary bail, and

being held over a suitable receptacle, the cream may be emptied therein b v simply unlocking and depressing the movable bail, which brings the hinged aps or movable bottom into proper position for permitting the skimmer to be passed into another milk-setting` vessel.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is-

l. In askimmingdevice, the combination of an open-ended cylindrical vessel or similar vessel of other suitable form, a bottom therefor, composed of hinged flaps, a movable bail, and jointed rods connecting said bail and bottom, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the cylindrical body or vessel A, having ange a, cross-piece D, andstationary bail G, the packing-ring B, packing-strip E, centrally-hinged ilaps F F, movable bail I, and thejointed connecting-rods fg, substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination of the vessel A, centrally-hinged aps F F, stationary bail G, having openings i t' and bars or ridge 7L, the movable bail I, and the connecting-rods fg, substanA tially as shown and described.

4. In a skimming device, the combination, with the vessel A, having a movable bottom, ot' the vent-tube m, substantially as shown and described.

5. A skimming device consisting of a cylindrical body, having a bottom composed of hinged flaps or sections, a transparent panel and a vertical vent-tube at the side ot' the vessel, a stationary bail at the upper end, a movable bail supported in said stationary bail and adapted to be locked in a raised position, and

.jointed rods connecting the movable bail with 

